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Kevin O'Mara's Biography

Dr. Kevin J. O'Mara
805 W. Lake Street #301
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 516-0793
komara@inlucem.org

Highlights

Demonstrated achiever with a passion for teaching and learning at the highest levels. Hard-working, committed individual with the ability to bring out the best in others. A person with a vision and a purpose that translates into helping students work to their highest potentials, not only academically, but ethically and morally. A learning community’s superintendent; I encourage each teacher to rise to the growing challenges of modern education, but give them the support and tools necessary to meet those challenges.

Experience
Argo Community High School Summit, IL Superintendent 2008-present 
  •  Keep the Board informed of the condition of the District’s educational system; assure effective communication between the Board and the staff of the school system. Relay all communications by the Board regarding personnel to district employees and receive from all school personnel any communications directed to the Board.

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  •  Prepare the agenda for Board meetings, in consultation with the President of the Board. Prepare and submit recommendations to the Board relative to all matters requiring board action, placing before the Board such necessary and helpful facts, information, and reports as are needed to insure the making of informed decisions. 

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  •  Submit to the Board a clear and detailed explanation of any proposed procedure that would involve either departure from established policy or the expenditure of substantial sums.

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  •  Develop and recommend to the Board objectives of the educational system; see to the development of internal objectives which support those of the Board.

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  •  Develop and recommend to the Board long-range plans consistent with population trends, cultural needs, and the appropriate use of District facilities, and see to the development of long-range plans which are consistent with Board objectives.

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  •  See to the development of specific administrative procedures and programs to implement the intent established by Board policies, directives and formal actions.

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  • See to the execution of all decisions of the Board.

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  •  See that sound plans of organization, educational programs and services are developed and maintained for the Board.

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  •  Maintain adequate records for the schools, including a system of financial accounts, business and property records, personnel records, school population and scholastic records. Act as custodian of such records and all contracts, securities, documents, title papers, books of records, and other papers belonging to the Board.

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  •  Be directly responsible for news releases and/or other items of public interest emanating from all District employees that pertain to education matters, policies, procedures, school related incidents or events. Approve media interviews of this nature with District employees.

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  •  Provide for the optimum use of the staff of the District. See that the District is staffed with competent people who are delegated authority commensurate with their responsibilities. Define the duties of all personnel.

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  •  See that appropriate in-service training is conducted. Summon employees of the District to attend such regular and occasional meetings as are necessary to carry out the educational programs of the District.  Prior to action by the Board, recommend the appointment, discipline or termination of employment of the administrators of the District.

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  •  Prior to action by the Board, recommend the appointment, discipline or termination of employment of teaching and non-teaching personnel of the District.

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  •  See to the development throughout the District of high standards of performance in educational achievement, use and development of personnel, public responsibility, and operating efficiency.

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  •  See that effective relations with employee organizations are maintained, assume ultimate responsibility for collective negotiations with employees of the District

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  •  See that the development, authorization, and the maintenance of an appropriate budgetary procedure is properly administered. Prepare the annual proposed budget and submit it to the Board by March 1 or at such earlier date as is necessary to provide an adequate opportunity for the Board’s discussion and deliberation.

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  •  See that all funds, physical assets, and other property of the District are appropriately safeguarded and administered.

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  •  File, or cause to be filed, all reports, requests and appropriations as required by various governing bodies and/or Board policies.

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  •  Establish and maintain liaison with community groups which are interested or involved in the educational programs of the District.

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  •  Establish and maintain liaison with other school districts, BOCES, the State Education Department, colleges and universities, and the U.S. Department of Education.

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  •  Act on own discretion in cases where action is necessary on any matter not covered by Board policy or directive. Report such action to the Board as soon as practicable and recommend policy in order to provide guidance in the future.

Ridgewood High School Cook County District 234 Norridge, Illinois Principal 2003 to 2008
  • Hired, inducted and mentored over 75 certified staff members--over 75% of the certified staff in the district.

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  • Directed and coordinated educational, administrative and counseling activities. 

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  • Developed and evaluated educational program to ensure conformance to state and school board standards. 

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  • Attended board meetings and submitted reports and recommendations to ensure school improvement.

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  • Wrote, designed and produced five-year strategic plan.

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  • Developed educational programs through meetings with staff, review of teachers' activities and issuance of directives.

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  • Was instrumental in creating "Students First," a community-wide initiative on school improvement.

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  • Conferred with teachers, students and parents concerning educational and behavioral problems in school. 

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  • Established relationships with community organizations and other schools to coordinate educational services.

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  • Trained new Assistant Principal, Dean of Students and Division Heads in staff hiring, induction, mentoring and evaluation.

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  • Requisitioned and allocated supplies, equipment and instructional material as needed.

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  • Supervised 115 employees, scheduled work hours, resolved conflicts, determined salaries.

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  • Observed and evaluated teacher performance.

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  • Planned and monitored school budget and building maintenance.

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  • Structured and maintained a strategic plan designed for continued student academic improvement.

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  • Developed and administered educational programs for students with mental and physical handicaps.

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  • Spearheaded efforts to increase test scores across all demographics.

Concordia University River Forest, Illinois Adjunct Professor 2005-present
  • Taught various courses to graduate students in the Educational Leadership Master’s Degree program.

Ridgewood High School Cook County District 234 Norridge, Illinois Assistant Principal 2001 to 2003
  • Directed preparation of class schedules, cumulative records and attendance reports.

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  • Developed and created master schedule which conformed to superintendent and board constraints on staffing limitations.

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  • Served as Director of Guidance and Director of Special Education departments.

West Leyden High School Northlake, Illinois Dean of Students 1994 to 2001
  • Participated and executed approximately 100 certified staff evaluation cycles.

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  • Executed daily operations of entire summer school program including driver's education offerings.

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  • Wrote, designed and produced the district's entire Code of Conduct.

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  • Conferred with teachers, students and parents concerning educational and behavioral problems in school.

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  • Trained and managed a twelve-person security staff and achieved significant improvements in their productivity.

West Leyden High School Northlake, Illinois Teacher of Mathematics/Department Chair 1991 to 1994
  • Served as interim department chair my first year at Leyden, overseeing a department of 22 teachers.

Education

Concordia University River Forest, Illinois

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership 2008

Concordia University River Forest, Illinois M.A. in Educational Administration 1996

Rosary College River Forest, Illinois

B.S. in Mathematics 1991

Affiliations
  • President, Illinois High School District Association

  • President, Illinois Association of School Administrators (South Cook Division)

  • Board Member, Illinois Association of School Administrators

  • Member, Illinois Principals' Association

  • Member, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

  • Member, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

  • Member, National Association of Secondary School Principals

  • Member, Illinois Association of School Administrators

  • Member, Horace Mann League of the United States

Accomplishments
  • 1992 Sallie Mae Award winner for outstanding first-year teachers; 1 of 100 awarded nationally

  • 1995 Rosary College GOLD (Graduate of the Last Decade) Award winner

  • 2006 & 2007 ASCD presenter—National Conference

  • 2008 United States State Department Fulbright Foundation Administrator Exchange Recipient

  • Member, Illinois Senate Taskforce on Suspensions/Expulsions

  • Member, Illinois Senate Committee on Education Reform

References
  • Mr. Terrence Pappas, President, Board of Education, Argo Community High School District 217

  • Dr. Kathryn Robbins, Former Superintendent, Leyden High Schools District 212

  • Dr. Linda Hanson, President, School Exec Connect

Address

805 W. Lake Street

#301

Oak Park IL 60301

Contact

708-516-0793

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©2017 by Kevin O'Mara.

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